RESIDENCY & RELOCATION

UAE Visas

Are you interested in relocating to the UAE and acquiring a residence visa? Just like with any move to a new country, you have to ensure that the legal status you obtain allows you to meet your goals. Not all visas are created equal, so we’ll go through the types of available permits and what you need to know for your UAE residence visa application. Starting with the types of residence visas:

Employment Visa

Golden Visa

Green Visa

Investor Visa

Retirement Visa

Property Investment Visa

Family Visa

Student Visa

Remote Working Visa

What’s the difference between a residence visa and an employment visa in the UAE?

The difference between the two is who will sponsor your visa. For an employment visa, your employer must sponsor you and bear the costs of the procedures please keep in mind you can open your own company and the company can sponsor your visa. Alternatively, you can acquire a green visa which includes self-employed individuals or freelancers (see green visa for eligibility criteria), or a Golden Visa which includes a range of persons.

Green Visa

Green Visa is a new type of residence visa that allows you to sponsor yourself for a period of five years. To be eligible you must either fall into two classes:

Freelancer or self-employed

  • Secure a permit (see freelance permit services we offer)
  • Proof of a bachelor’s degree or a specialised diploma
  • Evidence of annual income amounting to AED 360,000 or proof of financial solvency throughout their stay in UAE

Skilled Employees

  • Skilled employees are either Legislators, managers, business executives or  Professionals in scientific, technical and human related fields.
  • Must hold a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have a salary of not less than AED 15,000 per month.

Golden Visa

The 10-year Golden Visa in the UAE is a long-term visa (can be 5 or 10 years depending on the category you meet) where foreign talent can live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits, some of these benefits include:

  • No sponsor needed;
  • A multiple entry visa valid for 6 months.

It is considered as a residency visa by investment because the applicant must have public investments of a certain amount in the UAE. Check out the requirements and conditions as stated below.

Conditions

One of the following requirements for the UAE Golden Visa must be fulfilled:

Salary Based Criteria

You have a minimum monthly salary of 30,000 AED;

You have held the position of a Director, General Manager or Chairman of a Board of Directors for 4 years;

You have an academic bachelor’s degree or higher.

Investment Based Criteria

If you an investor and your investment lie in public investment, your investment fund must be accredited certifying you have a fixed deposit of 2 million AED in a local bank account for two years. Alongside proof that you have paid tax to the UAEs Federal Tax Authority no less than 250,000 AED.

Property Based Criteria

You own a property in the UAE worth 2 million AED;

The requirement can still be met if the property is on loan, but you hold at least 2 million AED of the property’s value.

Entrepreneurial Based Criteria

Entrepreneurial Golden Visas are limited to a 5-year term. The criteria is to own an economic project of a technical or future business based on risk and innovation. The project value has a minimum cap of 500,000 AED and must be an accredited business incubator.

Talent Based Criteria

Doctors, scientists, creative people of culture and art, inventors, executives, specialists in scientific fields, athletes, doctoral degree holders, outstanding students, pioneers of humanitarian work, frontline workers, and specialists in the fields of engineering and science are considered individuals with outstanding specialist talents.

Steps to Get UAE Golden Visa

After you get an email from Dubai immigration: ‘Cleared to proceed with the Nomination Request for the Golden Residency visa application’ please follow the next steps.

golden visa
Property Investment Visa

To qualify you must be a real estate investor who own property valued at 750,000 AED or more at the time of purchase. However, if the amount exceeds 2 million AED you can apply for a Golden Visa.  The visa allows you to stay in the UAE for two years and is subject to renewal so long as you meet the criteria. The visa also allows sponsorship for your spouse and children. Please reach out to us by filling out the form below so we can advise you on your best option.

Retirement Visa

Retirement visas are valid for 5 years. To qualify you must be over the age of 55, worked for more than 15 years inside or outside the UAE, or be 55 years or more at the time of retirement. You must also own a property in the UAE amounting to 1 million AED and have financial savings at a minimum of 1 million AED or have a monthly income of 20,000 AED with bank statements for the last six months to certify the above requirements.

Family Visa

If you are a foreign national with Emirates ID your spouse parent or child is eligible for residence visas for up to 5 years without having to be employed. If you need assistance on UAE Visa matters on any other related company set-up, restructuring or local partner matters in the UAE and wider Gulf do get in touch with us by filling out the form below or contacting us at +971 55 136 6402.

Student Visa

Student visas require a sponsor either by a parent who is a UAE resident or an accredited university/college. The visa is available for up to one year and is subject to renewal. Outstanding students also have the option of applying for Golden Visa.

Remote Working Visa

Remote working visas are known for their flexibility, the one-year visa allows foreign nationals to self-sponsor their visa and work within the scope specified on the visa application. You will be required to have a minimum income of 3,500 USD (12,800 AED). The visa target entrepreneurs and start-up companies. However, if you are applying as a company owner your minimum income should be 5,000 USD per month alongside proof of ownership of the company for over a year.

Are you ready to get your UAE residence permit number?

If you’re interested in securing your residency in the UAE, opening a non-resident or resident bank account or obtaining a visa by starting a business in the Emirates, we’re here to help. We highly encourage you to reach out to our team of residency experts that can guide you through the process.